WhatsApp rolls out new group chat features

WhatsApp rolls out new group chat features, including more controls for administrators as well as regular group members. Users can now leave a group permanently to avoid being repeatedly added back after they have left. Administrators can no longer be removed from a group they created and users can now quickly locate messages that mention them in a group conversation.

WhatsApp rolls out new group chat features

Groups on WhatsApp have taken a central role in the messaging service that has more than 1 billion users, helping connect people with similar interests across the globe. WhatsApp already has some nifty features which let you remain in a group but at the same time avoid all the disruption it can become.

You can mute WhatsApp groups for either 8 hours, a week or for a year and even block the notifications. Over the past few months, WhatsApp has introduced new features for groups like making it difficult for users to be re-added to groups they’ve left.

Now WhatsApp rolls out new group chat features in order to make the platform more interactive and engaging. The new features will be available on Android and iOS smartphones from now. Users can expect four important changes in their WhatsApp experience where the new features include the ability to set a group description, new controls for WhatsApp group admins, a mentions feature, as well as participant search. All the new features will be applicable to new and existing groups.

Group Description

Through this ‘Group Description’ users can add a new description for the group. Everytime a new user joins a group, the description will be showcased right on top of the chat.This feature can be found under ‘Group Info’. The group description can be changed by group admins and participants, with admins also having the option to restrict participants from doing so. Such a feature can come handy for office groups who have created the conversation with a defined purpose in mind.

Controls for WhatsApp group admins

The chatting platform is now equipped with new controls for WhatsApp group admins. One can access the new set of controls through the ‘Settings’ option. Admins have now been given the freedom to restrict who can change the group’s subject, icon, and description. The feature is available under ‘Admin Controls’ in Group settings.

Mentions or ‘Group Catch Up’ feature

WhatsApp users can now also use the new mentions feature in groups. Also called ‘group catch up’, the feature lets users find those messages in which they have been mentioned or those messages that reply to them. To find these messages, WhatsApp group users will only have to tap the @ button that now appears at the bottom-right corner of the chat.

Participant ‘Search’

Group participants can now search for anyone in a group by using the search option on the group info page. The participant ‘Search’ feature allows users to look for anyone in the group by simply typing their names. Apart from this, admins can also remove admin permissions of other group participants. In addition to this, group creators can no longer be removed from the group that they start.

Note

WhatsApp rolls out new group chat features for Android and iPhone users globally.WhatsApp also introduced protection controls so users can’t be repeatedly added to groups they’ve left.